Winless in their last six games, the Calgary Flames roamed into unfamiliar territory – Winnipeg's MTS Centre – on Monday night for their first visit to the Winnipeg Jets since the spring of 1996. With visions of blown leads and getting wildly out-chanced in the back of their collective heads, the Flames hoped to avoid their recent losing ways.

And despite falling into exactly the kind of habits that caused them to lose each of their last six games, the Flames somehow came out on top against the Jets.

THE RUNDOWN

Nobody scored a goal in the first period, but it was a fairly fast-paced, back and forth period. The Jets generally carried the play, hemming the Flames in their own zone for a few stretches – notably once off a Mikael Backlund turnover – but the Flames avoided much of the danger. The Jets and Flames each had maybe one solid scoring chance, but overall the period was nothing terribly memorable. The Jets out-shot the Flames 11-6, out-attempted them 24-14 and won more face-offs by a 13-6 margin.

The Flames generated some decent chances in the second, including one gorgeous chance for Lance Bouma on a two-on-one shorthanded rush with Matt Stajan. Calgary finally opened the scoring on the power-play midway through the period. With some good puck movement around the perimeter, the Flames attacked – Sean Monahan fed Lee Stempniak, who slid the puck to Mike Cammalleri who scored his ninth goal of the season. However, soon after that, the Flames weren't able to clear their own zone and Michael Frolik put a rebound past Reto Berra to tie the game.

The Flames responded, though. Again, via some nice puck movement in the offensive zone; Lee Stempniak and Matt Stajan won a puck battle, the puck trickled to Cammalleri, who passed to Kris Russell, who fed T.J. Brodie at the point. Brodie's point shot glanced off Frolik's stick and fluttered over top of Al Montoya to re-establish Calgary's on-goal lead. The Jets out-shot the Flames 23-9 in the second, out-attempted them 37-18 but the Flames won more face-offs by a 13-8 margin.

Entering the third period with a lead, the Flames had only lost once all season (against Edmonton). Olli Jokinen tied things up with a weird goal through a screen – it was basically a soft wrister that beat Reto Berra just over his near shoulder. Immediately afterwards, the Flames again couldn't clear the puck and after getting hemmed in their own zone for a bit, took a penalty. The usual game script called for a Jets power-play goal and a Flames third-period collapse. But this group really doesn't seem to care about the script.

Lance Bouma made up for not capitalizing on his earlier two-on-one, as he went into the Jets zone short-handed with Stajan and, via some nice puck movement on the rush, beat Montoya to put Calgary up 3-2. Then 53 seconds later, the Flames PK couldn't clear out a loose puck and Dustin Byfuglien slapped a puck past Berra to tie the game up once more. The Flames responded again, establishing some offensive zone pressure and going to work. Sven Baertschi, Jiri Hudler and Brodie cycled the puck and Hudler shot the puck at the net – glancing it off Mark Scheifele's skate and in for another Flames lead.

Unfortunately, the Flames couldn't hold on (again), with the Jets pulling their goalie and Bryan Little taking advantage of the holes in coverage having a sixth skater opens up. He put a rebound past a diving Reto Berra with just 5.6. seconds left in regulation to send the game to extra time. The Flames narrowly out-shot the Jets in the third 13-10, but the Jets had more shot attempts (24-19) and face-off wins (15-9). Oh, and goals.

Overtime was another back and forth affair, with Ladislav Smid even getting into the Jets zone on a rush and generating some chances. But the extra five minutes solved nothing. Calgary out-shot the Jets 5-3, but were out-attempted 7-6 and lost the face-off battle by a 6-2 margin.

The shootout went to eight rounds – with Joe Colborne, Lee Stempniak and Sean Monahan scoring for Calgary and Andrew Ladd and Blake Wheeler scoring for the Jets – but Calgary skated away with a 3-2 win in the skills competition, finally breaking their losing skid.

WHY THE FLAMES WON

Because the Jets are roughly as bad in the defensive zone as the Flames are. Besieged by injuries on their blueline and pretty disorganized, the Flames were able to play a punch-counterpunch game with the Jets simply because the Jets weren't able to shut them down.

But the Flames also gave up points to an in-conference opponent because they couldn't hold a third-period lead, so it's not like this was a hugely successful game. They got out-shot, out-shot-attempted and lost many face-offs, but didn't roll over and were able to be opportunistic enough to be in a position to win the game.

SCORING CHANCES

Team

Period

Time

Note

Home

Away

State

Away

1

19:25

Brodie

16

18

24

26

33

35

4

7

13

18

22

29

5v5

Home

1

17:07

Wheeler SH

24

26

33

35

67

6

7

18

29

47

54

4v5

Home

1

16:01

Steoguchi rebound

2

9

12

25

35

40

3

23

24

29

44

47

5v5

Home

1

14:53

Ladd

7

16

18

26

35

39

6

8

16

17

29

44

5v5

Home

1

13:18

Setoguchi 2on1

9

12

24

33

35

40

7

13

18

22

29

44

5v5

Home

1

11:31

Jokinen rebound

9

12

24

33

35

40

4

7

8

16

17

29

5v5

Away

1

11:12

Stempniak

9

12

24

33

35

40

4

7

13

18

22

29

5v5

Home

1

5:40

Jokinen

2

9

12

25

35

40

6

11

29

39

44

54

5v5

Home

1

4:21

Setoguchi

7

9

12

35

39

40

6

11

29

39

44

54

5v5

Away

1

0:26

Jones tip

7

9

12

35

39

40

4

7

11

29

39

54

5v5

Home

2

19:01

Kane break away

9

12

24

26

33

35

6

23

24

29

44

47

5v5

Home

2

17:43

Rebound

2

14

25

35

55

67

6

23

24

29

47

55

5v5

Away

2

17:00

Bouma

9

12

24

33

35

40

3

8

16

17

29

44

5v5

Home

2

15:24

scramble

2

17

22

25

27

35

3

7

23

29

47

54

5v5

Away

2

13:45

Bouma SH

16

18

26

33

35

39

7

17

18

29

44

5v4

Away

2

13:44

Bouma rebound SH

16

18

26

33

35

39

7

17

18

29

44

5v4

Home

2

13:05

rebound PP

9

12

33

35

39

40

4

6

11

29

39

5v4

Away

2

11:42

Cammalleri

14

24

25

35

55

67

3

13

18

24

29

44

5v5

Away

2

11:41

Cammalleri rebound

14

24

25

35

55

67

3

13

18

24

29

44

5v5

Away

2

11:12

Monahan PP

16

18

33

35

39

4

13

22

23

24

29

4v5

Away

2

11:00

Cammalleri goal PP

16

18

33

35

39

4

13

22

23

24

29

4v5

Home

2

8:50

Frolic goal

12

14

24

33

35

67

6

11

29

39

44

54

5v5

Home

2

7:07

Wheeler PP

16

18

26

33

35

39

3

18

22

29

44

5v4

Home

2

2:33

Ladd

7

16

18

26

35

39

4

7

13

18

22

29

5v5

Home

2

2:32

Rebound

7

16

18

26

35

39

4

7

13

18

22

29

5v5

Home

2

0:45

Jokinen tip

7

9

12

35

39

40

4

7

17

23

24

29

5v5

Away

3

19:14

Monahan PP

2

9

17

24

35

4

13

22

23

24

29

4v5

Away

3

19:13

Stempniak PP

2

9

17

24

35

4

13

22

23

24

29

4v5

Away

3

18:42

Monahan PP

7

18

26

35

39

4

13

22

23

24

29

4v5

Away

3

14:10

Stempniak PP

2

16

18

24

35

4

13

22

23

24

29

4v5

Away

3

13:25

Stempniak PP

2

9

17

24

35

4

13

22

23

24

29

4v5

Home

3

9:29

Ladd

16

18

24

26

33

35

6

13

18

22

29

44

5v5

Away

3

8:52

Bouma goal SH

9

12

33

35

39

40

3

7

17

18

29

5v4

Home

3

7:51

Byfuglien goal PP

16

18

26

33

35

39

3

7

17

18

29

5v4

Home

3

6:23

Tangradi tip

7

27

35

39

55

67

3

7

8

29

39

54

5v5

Home

3

0:06

Little goal

7

12

35

39

40

67

4

13

23

24

29

44

5v5

Away

4

3:26

Smid

16

18

24

33

35

3

4

8

22

29

4v4

Away

4

2:47

Brodie tip

7

12

35

39

40

7

23

24

29

44

4v4

Home

4

2:27

Wheeler

9

26

33

35

39

4

13

18

29

44

4v4

Home

4

1:33

Byfuglien

16

18

33

35

39

3

7

8

22

29

4v4

Home

4

1:02

Setoguchi

9

24

26

33

35

4

6

13

18

29

4v4

#

Player

EV

PP

SH

3

SMID, LADISLAV

17:01

4

4

00:00

0

0

02:30

1

2

4

RUSSELL, KRIS

21:44

4

7

05:02

7

0

00:56

0

1

6

WIDEMAN, DENNIS

17:30

0

8

02:25

0

1

01:51

0

1

7

BRODIE, TJ

24:22

4

8

00:41

0

1

03:24

3

1

8

COLBORNE, JOE

10:22

2

4

00:31

0

0

00:00

0

0

11

BACKLUND, MIKAEL

08:25

1

3

00:10

0

0

01:30

0

1

13

CAMMALLERI, MIKE

17:30

4

7

05:28

7

0

00:05

0

0

16

MCGRATTAN, BRIAN

04:45

1

2

00:00

0

0

00:00

0

0

17

BOUMA, LANCE

06:35

1

3

00:10

0

0

02:55

3

1

18

STAJAN, MATT

19:31

4

6

01:17

0

1

02:49

3

2

22

STEMPNIAK, LEE

16:30

3

5

04:20

7

0

01:44

0

1

23

MONAHAN, SEAN

14:06

1

6

04:44

7

0

00:00

0

0

24

HUDLER, JIRI

15:31

3

5

05:37

7

0

00:00

0

0

29

BERRA, RETO

8

19

7

1

3

3

39

GALIARDI, TJ

13:42

1

4

00:21

0

0

01:47

0

1

44

BUTLER, CHRIS

18:29

4

10

00:00

0

0

02:09

2

1

47

BAERTSCHI, SVEN

12:59

0

4

00:50

0

1

00:00

0

0

54

JONES, DAVID

13:48

1

5

01:54

0

1

00:00

0

0

55

O'BRIEN, SHANE

06:35

0

1

00:00

0

0

00:00

0

0

Period

Totals

EV

PP

5v3 PP

SH

5v3 SH

1

3

7

3

6

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

2

7

9

3

7

2

0

0

0

2

2

0

0

3

6

4

0

3

5

0

0

0

1

1

0

0

4

2

3

2

3

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

RED WARRIOR

A few candidates, but I'm gonna give it to Lee Stempniak. Stempniak was a factor for arguably the first time since returning from his foot injury. He was involved in all three zones, including a crucial goal in the shootout to extend the game.

The runner-up is Sven Baertschi, who was pretty damn good all game long after looking like a potential healthy scratch early in the day.

SUM IT UP

The Flames improve their record on the year to 7-11-3. They're in action again on Wednesday when they host the Columbus Blue Jackets at the Scotiabank Saddledome. The game starts at 8pm and will be on all manner of Sportsnet media properties for your viewing and/or listening pleasure.

Ryan Pike has covered the Calgary Flames since 2010. A Calgary native who writes for FlamesNation and The Hockey Writers, he's often at Flames games and practices, as well as spotted in the background of scrums and press conferences asking about Sven Baertschi.

Sean Monahan is a very bright light on what is going to be a dismal season from a wins/losses perspective. Can easily see why some say he would have been a top three pick in most draft years. It is an understatement to say that he is going to be a huge part of the Flames future.

I thought Stajan was simply great last night. Picking pockets, and sound in all 3 zones all for the entire game. It was probably Baertchi's best game as a pro and I hope the first next big step his career. Backlund's play was worrisome for me, and I'd be surprised if he does get benched. He was noticeably bad on two giveaways in a row that led to the goal. Hartley sat him for the rest of the game, I hope that was the only message, but it does seem to be Hartley's M.O when it comes to Backlund.

I think it might be time for the fans to reevaluate Backlund, he has scored 25 goals in 190 games which simply is not enough for a top six forward.

Most nights he is a solid defensive center, but if he only scores every seven or eight games, that puts him in the bottom six, not the top six. He seems to have lost all confidence, and he doesn't seem to like playing Hartley's system. Time for the kid to step up his game, or he will be packaged off in a trade.

Backlund looks like he was playing scared yesterday. He's at his worst when he's too tentative and getting rid of the puck too quickly and that happened more than once. That said, sometimes guys have bad games.

As for scoring, well he's probably a 40-point guy at best, but he'll never really get there if he gets zero PP time and is moved down the rotation whenever the team is losing or he makes a mistake. Which is true of pretty much anyone on any roster.

Takes a lot of poise to not try and do too much with your first career shootout attempt, in the ninth round, with a chance to win it. Monahan may not win a rookie scoring race, but the guy will be a hell of a player for a long time in this league.

In fact, that goal is much like his game all around - don't do to much, just be sound, and chip in all over the place. It's exactly the kind of game I like, can't wait for him to get a little more experience under his belt and be surrounded by some more good, young players.

I have to admit, Butler used to definitely be my goat...but I have to say in the past couple of weeks or so since Gio has been out, he's stepped up his game and doesn't look like a constant liability anymore.

Sean Monahan is a very bright light on what is going to be a dismal season from a wins/losses perspective. Can easily see why some say he would have been a top three pick in most draft years. It is an understatement to say that he is going to be a huge part of the Flames future.

I remember I was watching the draft with my buddy and he was disappointed that Lindholm was already gone at our pick. He was also a little miffed we didn't take Nichushkin.

I'll admit part of me wanted him too but I told him this kid was exactly what we needed. He was a big center who is good on FO's with good offensive instincts. I also told him there was no evidence that Lindholm was a better prospect and this kid probably would be in the top 5 if his team made the OHL playoffs.

We really hit a home run with this kid. I am truly excited for the future of this team.

We have young players with big upside at every postion: Sven, Gaudreau (LW), Monahan, Jankowski (C), Poirier (RW), Brodie (D - I dream Ekblad will be added here), and Gillies (G).

I think it might be time for the fans to reevaluate Backlund, he has scored 25 goals in 190 games which simply is not enough for a top six forward.

Most nights he is a solid defensive center, but if he only scores every seven or eight games, that puts him in the bottom six, not the top six. He seems to have lost all confidence, and he doesn't seem to like playing Hartley's system. Time for the kid to step up his game, or he will be packaged off in a trade.

Absolute worst case scenario, he's an ideal 3rd line centre (well, aside from the faceoff thing). Remember, as Kent mentioned, he gets no PP time. He also has spent a great deal of time in his career on the 4th line with plugs.

Last season, the only season in which he got consistent top 9 minutes (and still, was either on the 2nd PP unit or not at all), Backlund produced at a 0.5 points/game rate. That's in spite of being the team's go-to defensive centre.

Why would you want to trade him? What value do you think you're going to get for someone who, in your opinion, doesn't produce enough points? He's far more valuable to the Flames as a player than a trade asset. Who replaces him? Joe 8-points-in-20-games Colborne? Joe Bambi-on-ice Colborne? Joe seriously-what-the-hell-are-you-doing Colborne?

Backlund needs to be kept around at least until we know the NHL capabilities of Knight/Reinhart, if not longer.

Sean Monahan is a very bright light on what is going to be a dismal season from a wins/losses perspective. Can easily see why some say he would have been a top three pick in most draft years. It is an understatement to say that he is going to be a huge part of the Flames future.

I was screaming at the TV "Put Monahan in!!". Guess it took a while for Hartley to hear me.

I remember I was watching the draft with my buddy and he was disappointed that Lindholm was already gone at our pick. He was also a little miffed we didn't take Nichushkin.

I'll admit part of me wanted him too but I told him this kid was exactly what we needed. He was a big center who is good on FO's with good offensive instincts. I also told him there was no evidence that Lindholm was a better prospect and this kid probably would be in the top 5 if his team made the OHL playoffs.

We really hit a home run with this kid. I am truly excited for the future of this team.

We have young players with big upside at every postion: Sven, Gaudreau (LW), Monahan, Jankowski (C), Poirier (RW), Brodie (D - I dream Ekblad will be added here), and Gillies (G).

The one thing this team has needed for years is a big center who can score and play a two way game, win faceoffs etc.

I was wishing, hoping, praying for this to happen at the draft. When they called his name I was ecstatic at the though of finally having a big center in the system with as much promise as this. What is even better is that he has far exceeded my expectations already. I think this is the tip of the iceberg with Sean. We will see a lot more of him skating away from the net with his arm in the air and stick in hand like he did after last nights shootout winner.

If the rest of the guys pan out like this we will be in fine shape in a few years.